FEDERER CALLS AGASSI-SAMPRAS FEUD “AWKWARD, UNFORTUNATE”

Roger Federer has finally talked about the awkward situation from Friday’s “Hit for Haiti” charity match between Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras calling it an “awkward moment” and “a bit unfortunate”.

The row between rivals Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras happened during the Friday night fund-raiser in Indian Wells at the BNP Paribas Open where Sampras took exception to Agassi’s suggestion he was a poor tipper.

Each of the players competing wore a microphone so the crowd and television viewers could hear the banter and Agassi repeated the allegation he had made about his fellow American in his autobiography ‘Open’ last year.

“There was definitely an awkward moment, a bit of a heated moment,” Federer said in his press conference following his win Sunday over Romania’s Victor Hanescu. “It’s a bit unfortunate, but that stuff kind of happens. It’s a pity if that’s what grabs the limelight and not the event itself, you know.”

Federer and Sampras overcame Agassi and Rafael Nadal 8-6 in the match to raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake.

The evening was organized by venue owner Larry Ellison, who got the idea from a similar match Federer organized during the Australian Open in January.

The Agassi-Sampras feud has gained significant publicity, being featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program among many others.